3.10 — The wheel of giving and receiving

Sanskrit · Teaching film · Everyday practice

Speaker: Krishna, addressing Arjuna.

The shloka

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः ।
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ॥ १० ॥

Brief meaning

In the beginning, Prajapati, the lord of creatures, brought forth beings together with yajña, and said that by it they would flourish and receive what they rightly desire.

In the conversation

Krishna describes creation itself as arising together with yajña. People sustain the gods through offering, and the gods sustain people in return. Life is presented as a web of mutual nourishment. One who receives its gifts and gives nothing back is called a thief. The language is sacred, and it speaks of reverence as much as exchange.

Word by word

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा

Having created beings together with yajña,

पुरा उवाच प्रजापतिः

the creator, Prajāpati, said in the beginning:

अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वम्

By this you shall flourish;

एषः वः अस्तु इष्टकामधुक्

let this be for you the giver of what you rightly desire.

Going deeper

Prajāpati is the lord of creatures, the creator. The devas are the divine powers that sustain the world. The verb bhāvaya means to cause to flourish: people and the devas are meant to nourish one another. The word stena, thief, is strong on purpose. It describes taking life’s gifts with no gratitude and no return. Here yajña is reverence and reciprocity, not a bargain.

Everyday reflection

Think of the people who kept your household running when you were young, often without thanks. Much of what supports you now came to you as a gift: language, skills, food, shelter, kindness. Giving back is not a payment that clears a debt. It is a way of taking your place in the web that carried you. Who has given to you, and how could you give something back this week?

Consider today: Recall what sustains your life that you did not make yourself.